​Simmons sizzles against the toothless Tigers

David Simmons crossed for four tries as the Panthers recorded a 35-12 romp over Wests Tigers in front of 14,234 fans at Leichardt Oval.

Winding back the clock, Simmons experienced a career best day as the Tigers offered little in attack and even less in defence in a must-win game coming into the final third of the season.

The Tigers started promisingly through Chris Lawrence (15th minute), as the reborn centre scored his third try since converting into the second row to give the Leichardt faithful a promising start.

Soon after the Panthers hit back through Peter Wallace (24th minute) and Josh Mansour (29th minute) to take back the lead, while the scoreline could have been further in favour of the visitors if not for Martin Taupau denying Dallin Watene-Zelezniak close to the tryline.

The Tigers appeared to remain in the contest coming up to the break with Kevin Naiqama (34th minute) touching down, but with Tim Simona coming off the field with a lower leg injury, the Tigers narrow 12-10 lead was short lived.

Only minutes into the second half, the Panthers broke away to lead 16-12 with the first of David Simmons second half tries. With Simona off the field, regular second rower Kyle Lovett was forced into the backline, which provided Dean Whare countless opportunities to exploit the Tigers.

With Simmons going over in the 51st and 61st minute to bring up a century of tries, courtesy of Whare exploiting the Tigers left side defensive deficiencies, the Panthers took a 24-12 lead into the final quarter of the match.

A field-goal to Peter Wallace, along with a try to fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (74th minute) appeared to round out the days scoring, but not before Simmons darted away to score his fourth try on fulltime and kick the final conversion to send the Panthers home with a 35-12 victory.

With a hard road ahead of the Panthers, the win provided a tremendous foundation for the Mountain Men to build upon as they look to make consecutive finals series for the first time in over a decade.

For the Tigers, things could get even worse with Luke Brooks cited for a headbutt on Jeremy Latimore during a fracas as both sides made their way off the field at halftime. Should the Tigers halfback be cited, he may be looking at time on the sideline in a major blow for the struggling side.

Next week the Panthers will take on the Origin depleted Rabbitohs on Friday night at Pepper Stadum, while the Tigers face off against the resurgent Eels at ANZ Stadium on Monday night.

Match Details

Wests Tigers 12 Penrith Panthers 35
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Crowd: 14234
Halftime Score: Wests Tigers 12 Penrith Panthers 10

WESTS TIGERS (12)
Tries: Chris Lawrence, Kevin Naiqama
Conversions: Pat Richards (2/2)

PENRITH PANTHERS (35)
Tries: Peter Wallace, Josh Mansour, David Simmons (4), Dallin Watene Zelezniak
Field Goals: Peter Wallace (1/1)
Conversions: Jamie Soward (2/5), David Simmons (1/1), Apisai Koroisau (0/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Dean Whare
2 points - Peter Wallace
1 point - David Simmons

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Sunday afternoon football at Leichardt Oval between Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers.

Brendan Santi comes onto the Tigers bench in place of Dene Halatau.

Penrith will be 1-17 as advertised on Tuesday.

Tim Simona will play his 50th NRL game for the Tigers after debuting back in 2011.

The last time these two sides clashed was Round 17 last season when the Panthers pulled off a 26-10 victory at Leichardt. The match was especially significant for Mitchell Moses and Matthew Lodge as they made their debuts, while Braith Anasta suffered a career ending shoulder injury.

Kick-off only minutes away. Expect an entertaining game with plenty of points; Soward and Wallace look set for big games, but the return of Robbie Farah may prove the difference for the home side.

Peter Wallace leads the Panthers onto Leichardt Oval.

Keith Galloway takes the Tigers onto the field to commemorate his 200 game achievement from last week.

A bizarre start to the game. Penrith kick off, but referee Gavin Badger calls play back - he didn't blow the whistle!

Take two, Woods takes the first run.

1: Moses bombs, but David Simmons has no trouble catching.

2: Former Panther Kevin Naiqama does well to catch Peter Wallace's bomb.

2: Big hit on Mitchell Moses from Waqa Blake. Huge shot!

2: Penalty to Penrith.

4: Tedesco manages to beat Elijah Taylor to a Peter Wallace bomb.

5: Good shot from Chris Lawrence on David Simmons coming out of his own end.

5: Tedesco does phenomenally well to get out of his in-goal and up to the 20.

7: Isaah Yeo gives away a penalty for high contact on Tedesco.

8: Tigers put the ball down after some great passing from their spine.

9: Panthers penalty.

10: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is over the line, but appears to have lost control trying to ground the ball.

10: Good work from Martin Taupau to force the ball loose from Zelezniak's grasp.

11: Moses awarded a penalty 40 metres out.

12: Tigers penalty 10 metres from the tryline.

13: Great stop on Chris Lawrence from three Panthers.

13: Campbell-Gillard attempts an intercept, but knocks on close to the line.

15: Farah kicks in-goal, Chris Lawrence is claiming a try.

15: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Chris Lawrence. Kick to come.
Tigers strike first at Leichardt.

16: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
Richards converts. Tigers 6-0.

18: Moses can't hold onto Tedesco's pass, had he been able to it may have been a try.

18: Tim Simona down and receiving treatment for a lower leg injury.

18: Simona looks to be staying on despite the pain.

18: Campbell-Gillard knocks on at the halfway mark.

19: Delouise Hoeter loses the ball after Mansour rushed in on the centre.

20: Simona is off the field, Lawrence will move to the centres.

21: Latimore on for Penrith.

22: Ricochet off a Panthers, and Tedesco streaks downfield.

22: Tedesco kicks for Richards, but the ball travels dead.

24: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Peter Wallace. Kick to come.
Great try Penrith! Whare gets a wonderful flick pass out to Simmons who streaks downfield before linking up with his halfback.

25: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
From right in front, Soward adds the extras.

26: Tim Simona ruled out for the game. Disappointing end for his 50th game.

29: 40/20 PENRITH PANTHERS
Peter Wallace kicks a 40/20.
Despite Tedesco's best efforts, Wallace nails the kick.

29: Josh Mansour is claiming a try.

29: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Josh Mansour. Kick to come.
After spending the past two months on the sidelines, Mansour wastes no time touching down for a try.

30: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
From the sideline, the kick hits the posts.

31: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Elijah Taylor makes an unforced error.
Big hit from Sauaso Sue forces the ball loose on halfway.

32: New set for the Tigers after a knock on from Soward trying to stop a right side shift.

34: TRY WESTS TIGERS
Scored by Kevin Naiqama. Kick to come.
He scored in the same corner last year for Penrith. 12 months later, Naiqama returns the favour for the Tigers. 10-all.

35: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WESTS TIGERS
Conversion attempt by Pat Richards successful.
From the touchline, Richards nails the kick to give the home side the lead.

37: Farah kicks out of dummy half, but Simmons gets to the ball first, narrowly beating Luke Brooks.

38: Isaah Yeo drops the ball after contact from the Tigers defence 30 metres out.

39: Peachey is off an running, but is pulled down close to the line before losing the ball.

39: Tigers will have the ball close to their own line.

40: Both sides getting heated coming off the field. The referee getting a mouthful from Robbie Farah, but finally both sides enter the sheds with the Tigers leading by 2.

40: Penrith back on the park with the Tigers coming back now.

40: Luke Brooks has been placed on report and may find himself in trouble for head butting Jeremy Latimore.

41: Huge run from DWZ sends the Panthers inside the Tigers 20.

41: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by David Simmons. Kick to come.
Wasting no time, the Panthers take back the lead.

42: Put that try down to the great run from Watene-Zelezniak.

43: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Soward converts. 16-12 to Penrith.

43: Penrith appear to have started the second half full of running.

45: Jesse Sue has lost the ball inside the Tigers half. Big chance for Penrith to score again.

46: Penalty to Bryce Cartwright is advanced after back chat from Kyle Lovett.

46: Watene-Zelezniak went straight through the Tigers defence, but it appears to be an obstruction.

46: No Try. Obstruction.

48: Penalty to Tigers.

49: Lawrence has been held up over the line, but we will check with the video.

49: No Try. Knock on against Lawrence in-goal. 20 metre re-start.

49: Lewis Brown makes a great run and draws a penalty with his first touch of the game.

51: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by David Simmons. Kick to come.
Put him down for another! Simmons only one try shy of a century. Fantastic work from the veteran winger.

52: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Soward pushes the kick right. It's an eight point ball game.

53: The Panthers have exploited Kyle Lovett in the centres. 3 tries already today.

54: Brooks tries a chip, but Taylor is on the spot to clean up.

56: Tigers spread the ball, but the play ends in a knock on.

58: Farah kicks long, but Simmons is able to clean up with relative ease.

58: Strip against Robbie Farah on Lewis Brown.

60: Lewis Brown knocks on a metre out from the try line.

61: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by David Simmons. Kick to come.
Whare into space and Simmons scores his 100th!

63: Congratulations to David Simmons. Starting out with the Sharks in 2003, the winger has been a war horse over his career.

63: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Soward hasn't had a great day with the boot, but at the moment Penrith look set for a big win.

64: Jason Taylor has responded to Kyle Lovett's defence by moving Chris Lawrence to centre.

65: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL PENRITH PANTHERS
Field goal attempt by Peter Wallace successful.
From right in front, the Panthers captain nails the one-pointer and seals the game.

66: Pat Richards gets a lucky bounce from the re-start, finding touch with the kick-off.

67: It just isn't the Tigers day. They looked certain to score, but the Panthers defence holds tight.

69: Brooks loses the ball and the game looks all but over.

70: Wallace puts up another high ball, but Naiqama is able to catch.

71: Farah goes for a 40/20, but the Panthers get the ball.

72: Soward bombs, Naiqam catches, but Moses gives away a penalty for taking out Waqa Blake.

73: Penalty in front of the posts for Penrith.

74: For the third time today, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak gets over the line, but once again we will see what happens with the video referee.

74: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dallin Watene Zelezniak. Kick to come.
Finally, DWZ gets a try!

75: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Apisai Koroisau unsuccessful.
Soward hooks himself, but his replacement is unable to add the extras also.

75: Robbie Farah coming off.

76: Tedesco trapped in-goal after a great kick from Koroisau.

78: Mansour forced into touch.

79: Kyle Lovett knocks on again. He's had a horrible day defending against Dean Whare in the centres.

80: What a way to finish! David Simmons set to get his 4th try!

80: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by David Simmons. Kick to come.
Two months ago, Simmons wasn't sure he would play in the NRL again. Today he has scored a personal best, broken through the 100 try barrier and had a blinder!

80: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by David Simmons successful.
Rounding out a wonderful day, Simmons adds the extras as the Panthers win 35-12.